Overhead-trolley system



May 5, 1925. 1536,759

G. w BOWER ovsnmmn TROLLEY s'zsmw Filed May 18. 1925 George W'Bower, Z7 VM Patented May 1925.

UNITED STATES ATENT oFFic GEORGE W. BOWER, on SCHENEGTADY, new Yonx, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A conronArrlonor- NEW Yon r.

OVERHEAD-TROLLEY SYSTEM;

Application filed May 18,}923. Serial No. 639,964. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BownR, a citizen of the United, States, residing vat Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York,,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overhead- Trolley-Systems, of which the'following is a single current collector or'trolley wheel.

a specification. I j

Theprosent invent on relates to electric street railways and more especially to over- .head trolley systems, by means of, which electric power is supplied to the propelled vehicles. I a

3 In present-day practice two forms of overhead systems are employed. The single system employing asingle overhead wireand and discharging the spent current to ground through the car wheels and track. And the double system employing. two overhead wires, one to supply the hlgh potential current to the car and the other toreceivethe return current, and a double current colsystem.

leotor or trolley making contact with both of the wires. The single system is in most general use, while the double system is used where. it is impractical to installtracks in the roadway and has become known as the trackless trolley system, and is employed chieflyas an adjunct or feederto the single The object of my invention is to provide guarded means for thepoints of intersection or-juncture of double trolley wires with single trolley wires, whereby'the respective forms-of current collector may be enabled to pass without danger of becomingx displaced or of short circuiting the electric conductors operating under different polarities. a

. One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an under side plan view of a guarded switch or crossing, between a double and a single trolley system intersecting at right angles; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof,

- and Fig. 3 is a topandside-view in perspective of the guarded intersection and head of a double current collector,

In the double trolley system the high pocident to a short circuit betweenthe high i and low potential wires, I have made provision to eliminate a section of the low potentialwire 2 from the vicinity of thepoint of intersection, sothat a flyingtrolley pole cannot possibly operate to contact simultaneously with parts under different. potentials. Accordingly. the wire 2 is cut off a considerable'distance back from the'path of the. crossing. wire 3 and the severed ends connected to clamps 5 supported by insulated rail sections 6, and inorderto maintain the electrical continuity of the wire 2 over the insulated section a jumper wire 7 indicated by broken line, Fig. 3, is connected-at its ends to the respective clamps 5 and .isysupported by an insulator 8-011 otherfmeans-above the possible field of move ment of a flying trolley pole. V l

i The current collector for the doubletrolley system, as indicated in Fig. 3, comprises tential wire 1 and the lowpotential or return a triangular frame 9 having two collector 3 shoes .10 mounted transversely thereof and insulatedfrom each other by a guide barrier 11 projecting above the operative surface thereof, and finder loops extend above such surfaces at their outer ends, all as described and claimed inanother application, Serial No. 516,09d, filed November 18, 1921.

. In order that sucha collector may pass beneath the cross vire 3 without striking or other disturbance, I provide two pairs ofguide bars or plates 12 with their outer ends supported in the horizontal plane of. the wires 1 and 2, while their inner ends are depressed a considerable distance belowthat plane and sloping u'pwardlywith' gradual inclines to their. outer ends as indicated in Fig. 3. The outside longitudinaledges of the bars112are disposed in vertical planes substantially parallel to the wires 1 and 2, while their inside longitudinal edges are diagonal thereto so as to flare outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1, for the purpose of en gaging the-guide barrier 11 on the double current collector and holding it centered during its passage beneath.

The guide bars 12 are of metal and carried by the respective legs of a sheet metal bridge piece 13 having a ridge lat at its top to which an insulator 15 may be attached and by which the device is suspended from a cross wire or other support. ridge 14 are secured inclined blocks 16 adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the guide barrier 11 as the double collector shoes 10 pass the gap between the inner ends of the guide bars 12.

The insulated rail sections 6 are bolted at their inner ends to the legs on one side of the bridge piece 13 and cars 17 for attachment to the high potential wire 1 are secured to the ends of the legs on the opposite side of the bridge piece. Braces 18 are connected to the legs at each end of the bridge piece to impart rigidity thereto. The inclined blocks 16 and the braces 18 are preferably of wood.

Passing horizontally through the crotches between the legs on opposite sides of the bridge piece 13 and secured thereto is a bracket 19, to one, end of which the switch or crossing plate 4 is fastened and to the other end an ear for attachment to the transverse wire 8. The vertical elevation of the bracket 19, relative to the horizontal plane of the several wires, is preferably such that wire 1 will be bowed upwardly slightly between its attaching ears 17 and the transverse wire 3 will also be correspondingly elevated and to" that extent diminish the inclination of the guide bars 12 to provide the necessary clearance beneath the trans verse wire 3.

Where the trolley wires are supported in the vicinity of their intersection, the guard device may be supported by the wires and when suflicient support of the wires for such purpose does not exist the guard device may be supported independently thereof by connecting the insulator 15 to a suitable overhead support.

lVith the construction shown a single current collector, or wheel may be used in the usual way on the high potential wire 1 of the double system if desired, since its method of suspension and interconnection with the transverse wire 3 are the same as in the ordinary single systems and the intersection thereof.

While I have shown the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure Beneath the.

by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination with a two wire trolley system, of a guard supported by the wires and insulated from the negative wire or wires and extending below the wires leaving the free passage for the trolley wheels but adapted to force the trolley head, of the two wire system, down from the wires and carry it across switches, crossing, or a desired area to prevent engagement with the wires or switches or short circuiting the current between the wires.

2. The'combination with a two wire trolley system of a guard supported by the wires and insulated from the negative wire or wires and extending below the wires leaving the free passage for the trolley wheels but adapted to force the trolley head down from the wires and prevent lateral movement of the head, to carry it across switches or crossings, to prevent short circuiting of the current between the wires and causing the head to resume contact with the double circuit. I

3. The combination with a two wire trolley system, of a guard composed of plates having flared ends supported by the wires and insulated from the negative wire or wires and extending below the wires and arranged to force the trolley head below the wires and prevent any material lateral movement thereof.

4. The combination with a two wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area of positive polarity, of guide bars supported by the trolley wires, and adapted to carry the current collector head of the twowire trolley system down below the plane ot the trolley wires at switches, crossings, or at any desired point.

The combination with a two wire trolley system, of a guard composed of spaced approximately parallel plates, having outwardly flared ends, supported by the wires and insulated from the negative wire or wires and extending below the wires and arranged to allow the free passage of the trolley wheel and force the double contact trolley head below "he wires and arranged to prevent any material lateral movement of the head.

6. The combination with a two wire trolley system, of guide bars arranged approximately parallel to the trolley wires, supporting bars connecting said guide bars, and supported by the trolley wires, the guide bars and support bars adapted to conduct the positive current throughout the prescribed area, means for bridging the negative current over the said area, said guide bars being so arranged to allow the tree passage of trolley wheels and force the current collector head of the'two wire trolley system down below the plane of the trolley throughout by the positive wire or wires,

and adapted to carry the current collector head of the two wire trolley system down below the plane of the trolley wires at switches, crossings, or any desired point, and resume contact with the double trolley system. i p

8'. The combination with atwo wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area of positive polarity, of a guide composed of spaced substantially parallel plates, arranged parallel the wires and having outwardly flared ends, cross barsconnecting I said plates, means for connecting said plates to the wires below the same to allow the free passage of the trolley wheels and force the double contact trolley head below the wire and said plates arranged to hold the head against any material lateral movement.

9. The combination with a two wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area, of positive polarity, of guide bars supported by the trolley wires, and extending down below the plane of the trolley wires, and adapted to force the currentcollector head of the two wire trolley system down below.

the plane of the trolley wires, sw,'itches, crossings, and carry it under, through and across the trolley wires, switches, crossings, without engagement with said trolley wires, switches,.crossings, and cause said head to resume contact with the double trolley system. 1

10. The combination With a two wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area of positive polarity, of guide bars supported by the trolley wires, said guide bars being so arranged as to ,allow the free passage of standard trolley wheels in contact with the positive Wire or wires, but adapted to force.

the current collector head of the two wire trolley system down below theplane of the trolley wires, switches, crossings, and carry it under, through and across the trolley wires, switches, crossings, without engage ment with said trolley Wires, switches, crossings, and cause said head to resume contact with the double trolley system.

11. The combinationwith a two wire trolley system, within a prescribed area of one polarity, of a guide composed of spaced substantially parallel plates arranged substantially parallel the wires and overlapping each other and having outwardly flared ends, means for supporting the plates by the wires below the same to allow the free passage of trolley wheels over the trolley wires,

without interrupting the positive current,

and said plates arranged to engage the double contact head and force it down below the wires and guide it across the switches or crossingsor a desired area and hold it againstany' material lateral movement and cause the head to again engage the-wires.

12. The'combination with a two wire trolley system,o'f. a guide composed of spaced parallel plates arranged parallel the wires and having outwardly flared ends, cross bars connecting said plates, the plates and cross bars adapted to conduct the positive cur- I rent throughout the prescribed area, means for bridging the negative current over said area, means for connecting said plates to the wires below the same to allow the free passage of the trolley wheels and force the double contact trolley head below the wires and said plates arranged to hold the head against any material lateral movement, while passing through the prescribed area of positive polarity and cause the head to resume contact with the negative wire.

13. The combination with a two wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area of positive polarity, ofguide bars supported by the trolley wires and extending below the wires, so arranged as to provide a free passage tor trolley wheels, but adapted to force the current collector head of the two Wire trolley system down below the plane ofthe trolley wires, to limit the lateral movements of said head, to carry it under, through and across the trolley wires at switches, crossings, and cause it to resume contact with the double trolley system.

14. The combination wit-h a two wire trolley system, and within a prescribed area of bars to the supporting bars, and means for connecting said supporting bars to thetrolley wires, to allow the free passage of trolley wheels, and to force the current collector of the two wire trolley system down below the plane of the trolley wires, and said guide bars arranged to limit the lateral movement of said head. v

16. The combination with a two wire trolley system, of guide bars arranged approxi mately parallel to the trolley wires and over lapping each other at certain points, causing bearing surfaces for passage of the ourrent collector head, means for supporting said guide bars from the trolley wires to allow the free passage of trolley wheels in contact with the positive wire or wires with out interrupting the positive current, said guide bars arranged toengage the current collector head, force it down below the plane of the trolley wires, guide it under, through and across the trolley wires, switches, crossings, or a desired area, limit the lateral 10 movement of the head, and cause the head to again engage the wires.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of May, 1923.

GEORGE W. BOVER. 

